204840 Pte Albert Edward Punt, 2nd Devonshire Regiment

204840 Pte Albert Edward Punt of the 2nd Devonshire Regiment, was killed in action on this day, 14th July 1918. He was 21 years old and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records the additional information that he was the son of Mr and Mrs. Walter Punt of 71 Windmill Rd, West Croydon, Surrey. It also notes that he was born at Thornton Heath.

Soldiers Died in The Great War notes notes that Albert Punt enlisted in London and his medal index card (MIC) records two numbers: the Devonshire regiment noted above and also a number for the 21st London Regiment - 653632.

Working from my database on army service numbers, I see that 653632 would have been issued to a man joining the 21st Londons between October and December 1916. Albert would have been about 19 then and so it seems reasonable to assume that he was called up on or close to his 19th birthday. There is a birth registered for an Albert Edward Punt in Croydon in the June 1897 quarter for Croydon, and given that CWGC states that he was born at Thornton Heath, this must be the same person. I also looked for Albert on the 1901 census but have been unable to find him.

Albert must have set foot in France with the 21st London Regiment because, as I say, this number appears on his MIC. He obviously then transferred to the Devonshire Regiment.

Albert is buried in the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension; grave reference V.E.10.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (Medal index card, BMD registers)
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War